‘Crising’ stops US contracted ships to extricate USS Guardian

From the Daily Tribune (Feb 21): ‘Crising’ stops US contracted ships to extricate USS Guardian

Strong winds and rough sea conditions brought about by tropical depression “Crising” resulted in the stoppage yet again of the ongoing efforts by United States-contracted salvage ships to extricate warship USS Guardian from the Tubbataha Reef where it ran aground last month.

Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Palawan District, said that salvage ship Jascon 25, contracted by the US Navy from Singapore, only managed to position itself at the site upon its arrival in Tubbataha on Tuesday.

“There is still no salvage activity because of the unfavorable weather and sea conditions prevailing in the area… because Crising passed through the southern tip of Palawan,” said Evangelista.

“They decided yesterday (Tuesday) to let the weather disturbance to pass,” added Evangelista.

Until yesterday morning, Evangelista said that very rough seas and strong winds were being experienced in Tubbataha.

The PCG official said that Jascon 25 initially tested its dynamic positioning system, which does not require ship anchoring on seabed, in Tubbataha and it worked well.
“It’s for safety reasons,” said Evangelista. “As soon as the weather improves (the activity will proceed),” he added.

Earlier, Jascon 25 and SMIT Borneo, another US-contracted salvage ship also from Singapore, went back to Puerto Princesa City to transfer equipment and personnel necessary in the actual dismantling of USS Guardian also due to rough sea conditions.
Jascon 25 returned to Tubbataha on Monday only to encounter continuing rough seas and strong winds brought about by tropical depression Crising.

Evangelista said that SMIT Borneo is just awaiting additional equipment to be utilized in the dismantling of USS Guardian before leading back to Tubbataha Reef.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/item/10786-‘crising’-stops-us-contracted-ships-to-extricate-uss-guardian.html